Control a dimming level of an illumination load by a dimmer device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a dimmer device including a driver, and a controller communicatively coupled to the driver and to a monitor device. The monitor device can include a camera and is configured to take a plurality of images of the illumination load. The controller provides a control signal that indicates to the driver to adjust power supplied to an illumination load. The control signal is provided in response to a determination that a performance of the illumination load fails to satisfy a predetermined performance indicator. The performance of the illumination load is determined based on information related to the plurality of images of the illumination load taken by the camera of the monitor device. The controller can adjust a dimming level of the illumination load by providing the control signal to the driver.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/529,940, filed on Nov. 18, 2021, now allowed, which is incorporatedby reference herein its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

This disclosure is generally directed to modifying graphics rendering bytranscoding a serialized command stream.

Background

Lights are essential in daily lives. A light source (e.g., a lamp or aluminaire) can be generally referred to as an illumination load. Thereare many kinds of electric lighting technologies, such as anincandescent light, a halogen light, a metal halide light, a fluorescentlight, a light emitting diode (LED) light, a red, blue and green (RGB)LED light, or more. LED lighting continues to take market share from thetraditional lighting, due to the advantages of solid state lighting.

In general, dimming an illumination load refers to the property of alight source to vary its intensity and brightness, and adjust the diminglevel between a fully on level and a minimum value level for the lightsource. Dimming is a useful technology in the lighting industry. Thereare many kinds of dimmer devices performing the dimming functions.However, how to control the dimming level of an illumination load isstill a challenge.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, methodand/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations andsub-combinations thereof, for a dimmer device to change a diming levelof an illumination load based on a determination that a performance ofthe illumination load does not meet a predetermined performanceindicator. The performance of the illumination load is determined basedon information related to a plurality of images of the illumination loadtaken by a camera of a monitor device.

An example embodiment of a dimmer device can include a driver configuredto be coupled to an illumination load, and a controller communicativelycoupled to the driver and to a monitor device. The monitor device caninclude a camera and is configured to take a plurality of images of theillumination load. The controller is configured to provide a controlsignal that indicates to the driver to adjust power supplied to theillumination load. The control signal is provided in response to adetermination that a performance of the illumination load fails tosatisfy a predetermined performance indicator. The performance of theillumination load is determined based on information related to theplurality of images of the illumination load taken by the camera of themonitor device. The controller is further configured to adjust a dimminglevel of the illumination load by providing the control signal to thedriver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein and form a part of thespecification.

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate a lighting system including a dimmer device toadjust a diming level of an illumination load based on a plurality ofimages of the illumination load taken by a camera of a monitor device,according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate example lighting systems including a dimmerdevice to adjust a diming level of an illumination load based on aplurality of images of the illumination load taken by a camera of amonitor device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example process for adjusting a diming level of anillumination load based on a plurality of images of the illuminationload taken by a camera of a monitor device, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example dimming curve for a light emitting diode(LED) light, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer system useful for implementingvarious embodiments.

In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical orsimilar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of areference number identifies the drawing in which the reference numberfirst appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A lighting system may include a control device to control one or morelight sources to light a space. A light source, such as a lamp, aluminaire, or a light emitting diode (LED) light, can be generallyreferred to as an illumination load. Dimming an illumination load refersto the property of a light source to vary its intensity and brightness,and adjust the diming level between a fully on level and a minimum valuelevel for the light source. A dimmer device can perform the dimmingcontrol function for one or more illumination loads. LED lightingcontinues to take market share from the traditional lighting, due to theadvantages of solid state lighting. The LED dimming control can saveenergy, customize light scenes, control color tuning of the lights,extend the service life of the LED lights, among many other advantages.

A major issue plaguing the lighting industry is flicker, which isdefined as “variations of luminance in time” in The Lighting Handbook,published by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America(IESNA). Flicker may be inherent to the design of a luminaire but canalso be introduced by external factors. There are two primary types offlicker: visible and invisible. Visible flicker is consciously observedby humans and is typically considered objectionable except in somespecial applications like stroboscopic lights. Invisible flicker is notconsciously perceived but may still have biological or even healtheffects on humans such as reduced visual task performance, apparentslowing or stopping of motion (stroboscopic effect), unstable lightoutput in video applications, and distraction.

Accordingly, it is important to reduce the flickers for any lightsource. Flicker may become an even more serious issue to LED lightscontrolled by a dimmer device. Any dimmer device, such as a wall-boxdimmer, can have the potential for additional flickers caused by systemmismatch or other factors. Traditionally, based on a user's perception,a dimmer device may use a mechanical switch to enable the dimmer deviceto change the diming level of the illumination load. However, such amechanical switch of a dimmer device may have limited potential inreducing the flickers, since the control of the mechanical switch basedon a user's perception of the flicker can be unreliable.

Various embodiments of this disclosure may provide a dimmer device tochange a diming level of an illumination load based on informationprovided by a monitor device. In some embodiments, the monitor devicecan include a camera to take a plurality of images of the illuminationload. The performance of the illumination load can be determined basedon information related to the plurality of images of the illuminationload taken by the camera of the monitor device. In addition, the dimmerdevice or the monitor device can determine that the performance of theillumination load does not meet a predetermined performance indicator,based on information provided by the monitor device. Accordingly, thedimmer device can provide a control signal to adjust power supplied tothe illumination load, and further provide the control signal to adriver to adjust a dimming level of the illumination load. In someembodiments, the plurality of images of the illumination load can betaken by the camera of the monitor device according to a firstfrequency, and the illumination load is a LED light having a secondfrequency, where the first frequency is higher than the secondfrequency.

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate a lighting system 100 including a dimmer deviceto adjust a diming level of an illumination load based on a plurality ofimages of the illumination load taken by a camera of a monitor device,according to some embodiments. It is noted, however, that lightingsystem 100 is provided solely for illustrative purposes, and is notlimiting. Embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented using and/ormay be part of lighting systems different from and/or in addition tolighting system 100, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in therelevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. An example oflighting system 100 shall now be described.

In some embodiments, lighting system 100 can be placed in a stagelighting area, a studio lighting area, a TV and movie lighting area, anoffice, an industrial space, a hospital, a classroom, or many otherlocations. Lighting system 100 may include an illumination load 101controlled by a dimmer device 109. A switch 112 can be coupled to dimmerdevice 109 through a switch controller 111. In addition, a monitordevice 130 can be communicatively coupled to dimmer device 109 through awired or wireless connection. A power source 121 can be electricallyconnected to dimmer device 109. Dimmer device 109 can turn on theillumination load 101 using power supplied from the power source 121(e.g., commercial power supply of AC 100 V to 277 V). A power source,not shown, can be electrically connected to switch controller 111 tosupply power to various control devices electrically connected to switchcontroller 111.

In some embodiments, illumination load 101 can include an incandescentlight, a halogen light, a metal halide light, a fluorescent light, alight emitting diode (LED) light, or a red, blue and green (RGB) LEDlight, such as 101 a and 101 b as shown in FIG. 1B. An LED light canhave LED elements as a light source. The LED elements can be dimmed tolow illuminance compared to fluorescent lamps. However, when the LEDelements illuminate at low illuminance, unevenness in brightness orflickering becomes visible due to large deviation of lights emitted fromthe LED elements. In addition, when the LED elements illuminate at highilluminance, dazzling or glaring is likely to be perceived due to thelight-emitting characteristic of LEDs.

In some embodiments, switch 112 can be a mechanical switch and can serveas an operation unit for turning on/off the illumination load 101 and/orfor changing a dimming level of the illumination load 101. Switch 112can include a plurality of switches. When switch 112 is operated, switch112 can send a multiplexed transmission signal corresponding to theoperation of switch 112, e.g., positions of switch 112 a and switch 112b as shown in FIG. 1B, to switch controller 111. Switch controller 111can generate a control signal to be processed by dimmer device 109. Someconventional dimmer device 109 may only include a mechanical switch asshown in FIG. 1B. In embodiments herein, monitor device 130 can provideadditional control to dimmer device 109 in addition to switch 112.

In some embodiments, monitor device 130 can be communicatively coupledto dimmer device 109 through a wired or wireless connection. Monitordevice 130 can include a camera 135, a processor 133, a memory 132, anda communication circuit 131. Camera 135 can take a plurality of images134 of illumination load 101. Images 134 can be a collection of discreteand individual photo images, a collection of video images, or any othermultimedia images. Images 134 can also include any audio signals, suchas noises generated by illumination load 101. Information 136 related tothe plurality of images 134 of illumination load 101 can be processed byprocessor 133.

Based on images 134 or information 136 related to the plurality ofimages 134, processor 133 can determine that a performance 124 of theillumination load 101 fails to satisfy a predetermined performanceindicator 126. Performance of illumination load 101 can be determined byprocessor 133, and can be related to a flicker percentage, a flickerindex, or a flicker frequency. Predetermined performance indicator 126can be associated with a dimming curve, as shown in FIG. 4 , whichincludes a maximum dimming level, minimum dimming level, dead travel, ora rate of change of light output for the illumination load.Predetermined performance indicator 126 can be programmed into monitordevice 130 or received from dimmer device 109.

Once processor 133 determines that performance 124 of the illuminationload 101 fails to satisfy predetermined performance indicator 126,processor 133 can generate a command 138 to be transmitted to dimmerdevice 109 to determine the control signal 104 based on the receivedcommand 138 from monitor device 130. Additionally and alternatively,processor 133 can transmit to dimmer device 109 information 136 that isrelated to the plurality of images 134 of the illumination load 101.Dimmer device 109 can calculate performance 124, compare performance 124with predetermined performance indicator 126, generate control signal104 when dimmer device 109 determines that performance 124 of theillumination load 101 fails to satisfy predetermined performanceindicator 126.

In some embodiments, dimmer device 109 can include a 2-way dimmerswitch, a triode for alternating current (TRIAC) dimmer switch, anElectronic Low Voltage (ELV) dimmer switch, a 3-way dimmer switch, a4-way dimmer switch, or any other dimmer device. More details of dimmerdevice 109 are shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. In some embodiments, monitor device130 can be located within dimmer device 109, and together forming anintegrated device. In some other embodiments, monitor device 130 can beseparated from dimmer device 109. In some embodiments, monitor device130 can be implemented on a mobile phone, and camera 135 can be locatedin the mobile phone, while dimmer device 109 can be mounted on a wall.Communication between monitor device 130 and dimmer device 109 can bebased on a wireless technology.

Dimmer device 109 can receive the control signal from switch controller111 and perform control over illumination load 101. Similarly, dimmerdevice 109 can receive command 138 or information 136 from monitordevice 130, so that dimmer device 109 can perform control overillumination load 101.

Dimming device 109 can includes a controller 102, a dimming unit 103, acommunication circuit 128, and a memory 122. Dimming unit 103 includes adriver 123 and a dimming circuit 125. Dimming device 109 as shownincludes one dimming unit 103, but may include a plurality of dimmingunits. Further, dimming unit 103 may be configured to dim a plurality ofillumination loads.

Controller 102 can provide control signal 104 to driver 123. Controlsignal 104 can be a forward phase signal, reverse phase signal, a 3-wirecontrol signal, a 0-10V control signal, a digital addressable lightinginterface (DALI) control signal, a digital multiplex (DMX) controlsignal, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signal, or other dimmingcontrol signal. Controller 102 can include a microcomputer and the like.Controller 102 can be operated by reading out a program stored in a ROMand executing the program. Controller 102 performs a dimming controlover illumination load 101 by controlling dimming unit 103 according tothe control signal 104.

Within dimming unit 103, driver 123 can be connected to dimming circuit125 and controls the dimming circuit 125 to change the dimming level ofthe illumination load 101. The driver 123 controls a timing for turningon/off the semiconductor switch (a conduction angle with respect to thefrequency of power) to adjust power supplied to the illumination load101, thereby dimming the illumination load 101. Driver 123 can be aconstant voltage (CV) driver, a constant current reduction driver, or apulse-width modulation (PWM) driver.

Dimming circuit 125 controls power supplied to the illumination load101. Dimming circuit 125 can include a semiconductor switch, such as afield-effect transistor (FET) or a TRIAC that allows alternating currentto flow bi-directionally. Dimming device 109 performs dimming controlover the illumination load 101 in a power-controlled manner or in asignal-controlled manner. The power-controlled manner includes a phasecontrol scheme based on in-phase and a phase control scheme based onanti-phase. In some embodiments, a semiconductor switch, such as a FETor a TRIAC can be used as dimming circuit 125 to turn on at the timingof zero crossing of AC voltage from a power source.

In some embodiments, controller 102 can be configured to determinecontrol signal 104 to change a diming level of illumination load 101 bycontrolling driver 123 to adjust an on time and an off time forillumination load 101 or adjust power supplied to illumination load 101,in response to a determination that performance 124 of illumination load101 does not meet predetermined performance indicator 126. Performance124 of illumination load 101 can be determined based on the plurality ofimages 134 of illumination load 101 taken by camera 135 of monitordevice 130. Controller 102 can be further configured to adjust driver123 based on control signal 104 to change the diming level ofillumination load 101. In some embodiments, controller 102 can determinecontrol signal 104 based on received command 138 from monitor device130. Control signal 104 can indicate to driver 123 to adjust the powerby adjusting an on time and an off time duty cycle for the illuminationload. In some other embodiments, controller 102 can determine, based onthe received information 136, performance 124 of illumination load 101does not meet predetermined performance indicator 126, and generatecontrol signal 104 to change the diming level of illumination load 101.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate example lighting system 210, lighting system 220,and lighting system 230, including a dimmer device to adjust a diminglevel of an illumination load based on a plurality of images of theillumination load taken by a camera of a monitor device, according tosome embodiments. Lighting system 210, lighting system 220, and lightingsystem 230 can be examples of lighting system 100 as shown in FIG. 1A.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2A, lighting system 210 includesan illumination load 201 a controlled by a dimmer device 209 a, and amonitor device 230 a. Monitor device 230 a can communicate with dimmerdevice 209 a through a wired or wireless connection. A power source 221a can be electrically connected to dimmer device 209 a. Dimmer device209 a can turn on illumination load 201 a using power supplied frompower source 221 a. Illumination load 201 a, dimmer device 209 a,monitor device 230 a, and power source 221 a can be examples ofillumination load 101, dimmer device 109, monitor device 130, and powersource 121, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1 .

In some embodiments, dimmer device 209 a can include a 2-way dimmerswitch. Dimmer device 209 a can be coupled to power source 221 a througha line connection, and coupled to illumination load 201 a through a loadconnection.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2B, lighting system 220 includesan illumination load 201 b controlled by a dimmer device 209 b, and amonitor device 230 b. Monitor device 230 b can communicate with dimmerdevice 209 b through a wired or wireless connection. A power source 221b can be electrically connected to dimmer device 209 b. Dimmer device209 b can turn on illumination load 201 b using power supplied frompower source 221 b. Illumination load 201 b, dimmer device 209 b,monitor device 230 b, and power source 221 b can be examples ofillumination load 101, dimmer device 109, monitor device 130, and powersource 121, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1 .

In some embodiments, dimmer device 209 b can include a 3-way dimmerswitch. Dimmer device 209 b can be coupled to power source 221 b througha line connection, coupled to illumination load 201 b through a loadconnection, and further coupled to a neutral line.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2C, lighting system 230 includesan illumination load 201 c controlled by a dimmer device 209 c, and amonitor device 230 c. Monitor device 230 c can communicate with dimmerdevice 209 c through a wired or wireless connection. A power source 221c can be electrically connected to dimmer device 209 c. Dimmer device209 c can turn on illumination load 201 c using power supplied frompower source 221 c. Illumination load 201 c, dimmer device 209 c,monitor device 230 c, and power source 221 c can be examples ofillumination load 101, dimmer device 109, monitor device 130, and powersource 121, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1 .

In some embodiments, dimmer device 209 c can include a 4-way dimmerswitch. Dimmer device 209 c can be coupled to power source 221 c througha line connection, coupled to illumination load 201 c through a loadconnection, and further coupled to a neutral line and a ground line.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example process 300 for adjusting a diming levelof an illumination load based on a plurality of images of theillumination load taken by a camera of a monitor device, according tosome embodiments. Processes 300 can be performed by processing logic ofcontroller 102 that can comprise hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicatedlogic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (e.g.,instructions executing on a processing device), or a combinationthereof. It is to be appreciated that not all steps may be needed toperform the disclosure provided herein. Further, some of the steps maybe performed simultaneously, or in a different order than shown in FIG.3 , as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

At 302, controller 102 can provide a control signal that indicates to adriver to adjust power supplied to an illumination load. The controlsignal can be provided in response to a determination that a performanceof the illumination load fails to satisfy a predetermined performanceindicator. For example, as described for FIG. 1A, controller 102 canprovide control signal 104 that indicates to driver 123 to adjust powersupplied to illumination load 101. Control signal 104 can be provided inresponse to a determination that performance 124 of illumination load101 fails to satisfy predetermined performance indicator 126.

Operations at 302 can be implemented in various ways. In someembodiments, monitor device 130 only transmits information 136 relatedto the plurality of images 134 of illumination load 101 to controller102, and controller 102 determines, based on information 136,performance 124 of illumination load 101. In some embodiments, monitordevice 130 can transmit the plurality of images 134 of illumination load101 to controller 102, and controller 102 determines, based on theplurality of images 134, performance 124 of illumination load 101.Controller 102 further determines whether performance 124 meetspredetermined performance indicator 126. As shown at 312, controller 102can determine, based on information 136 related to the plurality ofimages 134 of illumination load 101, performance 124 of illuminationload 101 does not meet predetermined performance indicator 126; and at314, controller 102 can generate control signal 104 to change the diminglevel of illumination load 101.

In some embodiments, monitor device 130 determines, based on theplurality of images 134, the performance 124 of illumination load 101.Monitor device 130 further determines whether performance 124 meetspredetermined performance indicator 126, and further provides command138 to controller 102. At 322, controller 102 can provide control signal104 based on command 138 received from monitor device 130. Operationsshown at 312, 314, and 322 are merely examples of variousimplementations of operations at 302. There can be other implementationsknown to a person having ordinary skills in the art. At 304, controller102 can adjust a dimming level of illumination load 101 by providingcontrol signal 104 to driver 123.

In some embodiments, control signal 104 is provided to change a diminglevel of illumination load 101 by controlling driver 123 to adjust an ontime and an off time for illumination load 101 or adjust power suppliedto illumination load 101. Control signal 104 can be a forward phasesignal, reverse phase signal, a TRIAC dimmer control signal, an ELVdimmer control signal, a 3-wire control signal, a 0-10V control signal,a DALI control signal, a DMX control signal, or a PWM control signal.

In some embodiments, a TRIAC dimmer can be designed for incandescent andhalogen lamps and the ELV dimmer can be designed for electronic lowvoltage halogen lights. A 0-10V analog dimming can be used in thelighting industry in commercial applications where the 0-10V dimmersimply provides a low voltage DC signal to the lighting fixture, whichranges from 0V to 10V. The DALI standard defined in IEC 62386 is adigital protocol that enables the control of lighting fixtures inbuilding automation applications via a bus architecture where acontroller addresses individual or groups of lights for control andstatus purposes. A DMX dimmer is based on a digital communicationsstandard used to control theatrical and stage lighting. A DMX dimmeroffers the same advantages to lighting controls as DALI does. A PWMdimmer can be a digital dimming scheme that is implemented by drivingthe LEDs with a square wave current waveform. Unlike constant currentreduction where the driver reduces the output current to dim the lights,the PWM signal waveform swings the LED current from full on to off. Byadjusting the duty cycle of the waveform, e.g., the on time, the averagecurrent going into the LEDs is changed which causes the lights to dim.

In some embodiments, control signal 104 can be provided in response to adetermination that performance 124 of illumination load 101 does notmeet predetermined performance indicator 126. There can be manydifferent ways to define performance 124 and predetermined performanceindicator 126. Performance 124 can be related to a flicker percentage, aflicker index, or a flicker frequency.

In some embodiments, performance 124 can be derived by counting a numberof images of illumination load 101 that show illumination load 101 ison, and counting a number of images of illumination load 101 that showillumination load 101 is off, and derive performance 124 based onvarious formulas related to a flicker percentage, a flicker index, or aflicker frequency, which are known to a person having ordinary skills inthe art. In some other embodiments, performance 124 can be related tonoise or other performance metrics for illumination load 101.

Flicker can be more or less apparent depending on several factors,primarily the relevant amount of variation in the light per cycle, theproportions of the lighting waveform, and the frequency (or frequencies)at which the light variation occurs. Flicker percent can be a measure ofthe maximum light vs. the minimum light in a cycle. Flicker percent onlyaccounts for the minimum and maximum light outputs, and does notdifferentiate between waveforms. Flicker percentage or % flicker can becalculated with the following formula:

${{\%{flicker}} = {100*\frac{A - B}{A + B}}},$where A represents maximum light output and B minimum light output.

Flicker index is another common metric for describing the behavior interms of the amount of light that a product produces over a given cycle.Flicker index requires more calculations than flicker percent, as thereis consideration given to the shape of the waveform. Flicker indexconsiders the area of the waveform above and below the average lightoutput.

Similarly, predetermined performance indicator 126 can be associatedwith a dimming curve as shown in FIG. 4 . In addition, predeterminedperformance indicator 126 can be based on various standards, such asIEEE 1789, ENERGY STAR® defined by EPA, California Title 20and Title 24,IEC/TR 61547-1, CIE TC 1-83, Japan DENAN Law, and others.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example dimming curve 400 for a LED light,according to some embodiments. Dimming curve 400 can be used as a baseto provide predetermined performance indicator 126. As shown in FIG. 4 ,dimming curve 400 can include a maximum dimming level, minimum dimminglevel, dead travel, or a rate of change of light output for theillumination load. The minimum dimming level is the minimum light levelattainable with a dimmable system. The maximum dimming level is amaximum line voltage applied to illumination load 101 so that even whendimmer device 109 is at is maximum setting, the illumination load 101does not receive the full voltage, but to receive the maximum linevoltage instead. Dead travel occurs when there is no change in lightoutput from illumination load 101 despite a change in dimmer device 109.In some embodiments, a dead travel area can be limited to no more than10% at the top of the dimming curve, or bottom of the dimming curve.

Example Computer System

Various embodiments may be implemented, for example, using one or morewell-known computer systems, such as computer system 500 shown in FIG. 5. For example, dimmer device 109, monitor device 130, controller 102,processor 133, dimmer device 209 a, dimmer device 209 b, dimmer device209 c, may be implemented using combinations or sub-combinations ofcomputer system 500 to perform various functions described herein, e.g.,by process 300. Also or alternatively, one or more computer systems 500may be used, for example, to implement any of the embodiments discussedherein, as well as combinations and sub-combinations thereof.

Computer system 500 may include one or more processors (also calledcentral processing units, or CPUs), such as a processor 504. Processor504 may be connected to a communication infrastructure or bus 506.

Computer system 500 may also include user input/output device(s) 503,such as monitors, keyboards, pointing devices, etc., which maycommunicate with communication infrastructure 506 through userinput/output interface(s) 502.

One or more of processors 504 may be a graphics processing unit (GPU).In an embodiment, a GPU may be a processor that is a specializedelectronic circuit designed to process mathematically intensiveapplications. The GPU may have a parallel structure that is efficientfor parallel processing of large blocks of data, such as mathematicallyintensive data common to computer graphics applications, images, videos,etc.

Computer system 500 may also include a main or primary memory 508, suchas random access memory (RAM). Main memory 508 may include one or morelevels of cache. Main memory 508 may have stored therein control logic(i.e., computer software) and/or data.

Computer system 500 may also include one or more secondary storagedevices or memory 510. Secondary memory 510 may include, for example, ahard disk drive 512 and/or a removable storage device or drive 514.Removable storage drive 514 may be a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tapedrive, a compact disk drive, an optical storage device, tape backupdevice, and/or any other storage device/drive.

Removable storage drive 514 may interact with a removable storage unit518. Removable storage unit 518 may include a computer usable orreadable storage device having stored thereon computer software (controllogic) and/or data. Removable storage unit 518 may be a floppy disk,magnetic tape, compact disk, DVD, optical storage disk, and any othercomputer data storage device. Removable storage drive 514 may read fromand/or write to removable storage unit 518.

Secondary memory 510 may include other means, devices, components,instrumentalities or other approaches for allowing computer programsand/or other instructions and/or data to be accessed by computer system500. Such means, devices, components, instrumentalities or otherapproaches may include, for example, a removable storage unit 522 and aninterface 520. Examples of the removable storage unit 522 and theinterface 520 may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface(such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip(such as an EPROM or PROM) and associated socket, a memory stick and USBor other port, a memory card and associated memory card slot, and/or anyother removable storage unit and associated interface.

Computer system 500 may further include a communication or networkinterface 524. Communication interface 524 may enable computer system500 to communicate and interact with any combination of externaldevices, external networks, external entities, etc. (individually andcollectively referenced by reference number 528). For example,communication interface 524 may allow computer system 500 to communicatewith external or remote devices 528 over communications path 526, whichmay be wired and/or wireless (or a combination thereof), and which mayinclude any combination of LANs, WANs, the Internet, etc. Control logicand/or data may be transmitted to and from computer system 500 viacommunication path 526.

Computer system 500 may also be any of a personal digital assistant(PDA), desktop workstation, laptop or notebook computer, netbook,tablet, smart phone, smart watch or other wearable, appliance, part ofthe Internet-of-Things, and/or embedded system, to name a fewnon-limiting examples, or any combination thereof.

Computer system 500 may be a client or server, accessing or hosting anyapplications and/or data through any delivery paradigm, including butnot limited to remote or distributed cloud computing solutions; local oron-premises software (“on-premise” cloud-based solutions); “as aservice” models (e.g., content as a service (CaaS), digital content as aservice (DCaaS), software as a service (SaaS), managed software as aservice (MSaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), desktop as a service(DaaS), framework as a service (FaaS), backend as a service (BaaS),mobile backend as a service (MBaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS),etc.); and/or a hybrid model including any combination of the foregoingexamples or other services or delivery paradigms.

Any applicable data structures, file formats, and schemas in computersystem 500 may be derived from standards including but not limited toJavaScript Object Notation (JSON), Extensible Markup Language (XML), YetAnother Markup Language (YAML), Extensible Hypertext Markup Language(XHTML), Wireless Markup Language (WML), MessagePack, XML User InterfaceLanguage (XUL), or any other functionally similar representations aloneor in combination. Alternatively, proprietary data structures, formatsor schemas may be used, either exclusively or in combination with knownor open standards.

In some embodiments, a tangible, non-transitory apparatus or article ofmanufacture comprising a tangible, non-transitory computer useable orreadable medium having control logic (software) stored thereon may alsobe referred to herein as a computer program product or program storagedevice. This includes, but is not limited to, computer system 500, mainmemory 508, secondary memory 510, and removable storage units 518 and522, as well as tangible articles of manufacture embodying anycombination of the foregoing. Such control logic, when executed by oneor more data processing devices (such as computer system 500 orprocessor(s) 504), may cause such data processing devices to operate asdescribed herein.

Based on the teachings contained in this disclosure, it will be apparentto persons skilled in the relevant art(s) how to make and useembodiments of this disclosure using data processing devices, computersystems and/or computer architectures other than that shown in FIG. 5 .In particular, embodiments can operate with software, hardware, and/oroperating system implementations other than those described herein.

Conclusion

It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and notany other section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. Othersections can set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments ascontemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limitthis disclosure or the appended claims in any way.

While this disclosure describes exemplary embodiments for exemplaryfields and applications, it should be understood that the disclosure isnot limited thereto. Other embodiments and modifications thereto arepossible, and are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Forexample, and without limiting the generality of this paragraph,embodiments are not limited to the software, hardware, firmware, and/orentities illustrated in the figures and/or described herein. Further,embodiments (whether or not explicitly described herein) havesignificant utility to fields and applications beyond the examplesdescribed herein.

Embodiments have been described herein with the aid of functionalbuilding blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functionsand relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of thedescription. Alternate boundaries can be defined as long as thespecified functions and relationships (or equivalents thereof) areappropriately performed. Also, alternative embodiments can performfunctional blocks, steps, operations, methods, etc. using orderingsdifferent than those described herein.

References herein to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exampleembodiment,” or similar phrases, indicate that the embodiment describedmay include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, butevery embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it would be within the knowledge of persons skilled in therelevant art(s) to incorporate such feature, structure, orcharacteristic into other embodiments whether or not explicitlymentioned or described herein. Additionally, some embodiments can bedescribed using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along withtheir derivatives. These terms are not necessarily intended as synonymsfor each other. For example, some embodiments can be described using theterms “connected” and/or “coupled” to indicate that two or more elementsare in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. The term“coupled,” however, can also mean that two or more elements are not indirect contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interactwith each other.

The breadth and scope of this disclosure should not be limited by any ofthe above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A monitor device, comprising: at least oneprocessor; and a memory operatively coupled to the at least oneprocessor, the at least one processor configured to: determine whether aperformance of an illumination load fails to satisfy a predeterminedperformance indicator of the illumination load, wherein the illuminationload is controlled by a dimmer device coupled to the monitor device; andupon a determination that the performance of the illumination load failsto satisfy the predetermined performance indicator, generate a commandto be transmitted to the dimmer device to control the illumination load.2. The monitor device of claim 1, wherein to determine whether theperformance of the illumination load fails to satisfy the predeterminedperformance indicator, the at least one processor is configured todetermine whether the performance of the illumination load fails tosatisfy the predetermined performance indicator based on a plurality ofimages of the illumination load.
 3. The monitor device of claim 2,wherein the plurality of images of the illumination load includes acollection of discrete and individual photo images, a collection ofvideo images, or a collection of multimedia images.
 4. The monitordevice of claim 2, wherein the plurality of images of the illuminationload is obtained by a camera coupled to the at least one processor. 5.The monitor device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of images of theillumination load are generated by the camera according to a firstfrequency, and the illumination load is a light emitting diode (LED)light having a second frequency, and the first frequency is higher thanthe second frequency.
 6. The monitor device of claim 4, wherein themonitor device is a mobile phone, and the camera is located in themobile phone.
 7. The monitor device of claim 1, wherein the performanceof the illumination load is related to a flicker percentage, a flickerindex, or a flicker frequency.
 8. The monitor device of claim 1, whereinthe predetermined performance indicator is associated with a dimmingcurve that includes a maximum dimming level, a minimum dimming level, adead travel, or a rate of change of light output for the illuminationload.
 9. The monitor device of claim 1, wherein the monitor device islocated within the dimmer device, and together with the dimmer deviceforming an integrated device.
 10. The monitor device of claim 1, whereinthe monitor device is communicatively coupled to the dimmer devicethrough a wireless connection.
 11. A method for operating a monitordevice, comprising: determining whether a performance of an illuminationload fails to satisfy a predetermined performance indicator of theillumination load, wherein the illumination load is controlled by adimmer device coupled to the monitor device; and upon a determinationthat the performance of the illumination load fails to satisfy thepredetermined performance indicator, generating a command to betransmitted to the dimmer device to control the illumination load. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein the determining comprises determiningwhether the performance of the illumination load fails to satisfy thepredetermined performance indicator based on a plurality of images ofthe illumination load.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pluralityof images of the illumination load includes a collection of discrete andindividual photo images, a collection of video images, or a collectionof multimedia images.
 14. The method of claim
 12. wherein the pluralityof images of the illumination load is obtained by a camera.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the plurality of images of the illuminationload are generated by the camera according to a first frequency, and theillumination load is a light emitting diode (LED) light having a secondfrequency, and the first frequency is higher than the second frequency.16. The method of claim 14, wherein the monitor device is a mobilephone, and the camera is located in the mobile phone.
 17. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the performance of the illumination load is related toa flicker percentage, a flicker index, or a flicker frequency, andwherein the predetermined performance indicator is associated with adimming curve that includes a maximum dimming level, a minimum dimminglevel, a dead travel, or a rate of change of light output for theillumination load.
 18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium havinginstructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device,cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:determining, based on a plurality of images of an illumination loadobtained by a camera, whether a performance of the illumination loadfails to satisfy a predetermined performance indicator of theillumination load, wherein the illumination load is controlled by adimmer device coupled to the computing device; and upon a determinationthat the performance of the illumination load fails to satisfy thepredetermined performance indicator, generating a command to betransmitted to the dimmer device to control the illumination load. 19.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein theplurality of images of the illumination load are generated by the cameraaccording to a first frequency, and the illumination load is a lightemitting diode (LED) light having a second frequency, and the firstfrequency is higher than the second frequency.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the performance of theillumination load is related to a flicker percentage, a flicker index,or a flicker frequency, and wherein the predetermined performanceindicator is associated with a dimming curve that includes a maximumdimming level, a minimum dimming level, a dead travel, or a rate ofchange of light output for the illumination load.